How To Repair A Pinhole In A Air Compressor Tank

SuperDork
11/3/16 ix:xix a.thou.

I'm guessing the respond is a resounding no, don't practice it?

I've got a who knows how old, probable early on-mid '80s model based on the .pdfs Grainger scanned for me, Speedaire 20 Gallon horizontal compressor. I picked it upward for $xxx from a pawn shop, because when testing information technology wouldn't build more than than 40 PSI.

Cleaning and re-ringing got it running skilful equally new, and I ran it long plenty that I eventually needed to re-band it over again some years later.

I rebuilt the original pump twice, well re-ringed information technology twice, and put new bearings in when I had it autonomously the beginning go-round. I most recently, like 4 months ago, put a NOS compressor pump on it.

It's a shame actually, since I've got a new pump with <4 hours on information technology, and a tank with a hole in it, simply the replacement tank is $400-470 , I can become a whole brand new, very nice compressor for that kind of cheddar.

I know meliorate, as tempted equally I am to just MIG that hole in the tank shut, I wont. I guess this is more than me simply venting well-nigh the situation.

I've ran my impact off my noisy little Porter-Cable pancake before, information technology's good for two.five-3 lug basics earlier having to catch up. I guess I'chiliad back to using it for a while.

Your first sentence is the correct one.

Fourth dimension to toss. Unless you are looking at putting in a new door.

We've had pressure tanks patched before but not by just migging upward a hole. It was more involved than that, but still could be done at domicile. The catch is that the tank we spent good money patching ended up springing more leaks pretty much right away. By the time y'all have 1 pinhole leak, there are probably dozens more on the way.

I would try to supersede the tank - I bet yous could observe a random used i in skilful shape and suit information technology to work. I know often times people think they're worth tons of money but sometimes y'all get a reasonable seller.

Wouldn't consider it unless you can run the compressor in a heavily reinforced hugger-mugger bunker and remote-vent the tank before entering the bunker for maintenance.

I would exist tempted to expand the pigsty slighlty and put a sealed sheet metal spiral in there.

That or a rivnut with some epoxy around it and a sealed bolt.

Information technology will probable withal fail as this is generally a sign the tank is damaged internally from rust.

Get a inexpensive 20 gallon compressor at harbor freight and put your compressor on the tank?

a guy 1 street over from me died when filling a small portable air tank that exploded. He didn't have a regulator on his big compressor and the small-scale tank was old.

slefain PowerDork
11/three/16 x:01 a.m.

bigdaddylee82 wrote: I know improve, as tempted equally I am to only MIG that pigsty in the tank shut, I wont. I approximate this is more me just venting about the state of affairs.

Welding on a compressor tank is a bad idea. Oil from the pump gets in the tank and yous end up welding on a flop. There'southward some pretty nasty pics of a guy missing office of his head from welding on an empty air tank.

I take a monster 100-gallon shop compressor setup I was given that turned out to be ancient (like lx years sometime). It is going to the scrapper once I punch a few one" holes in it to make sure information technology stays scrapped.

(edit) Dammit, my stupid self looked for compressor tank welding explosion pics to show property harm and I found more than I wanted to run across before lunch. If you value your skull from the nose up, don't do it.

I was thinking you should buy something like this:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/tls/5859153767.html

Simply local to you. I bet you could become it for $xxx - $50. Brand a little platform adapter to mount your compressor head to information technology and plumb it in. Plainly get a tank the size you need and make certain the pressure rating is compatible! (Ie, don't go a 125psi tank if your compressor goes to 175psi!!)

EvanB wrote: Get a inexpensive xx gallon compressor at harbor freight and put your compressor on the tank?

I was wondering what'south odd about this compressor that it can't go on any cheap new tank.

Rust is all but guaranteed to be the cause of the hole, and the pinhole you have at present is likely surrounded by a much larger area nearly rusted through.

Every bit higher up: If you take ever dealt with rusted metallic, a tiny pinhole from the outside by and large has a rather large surface area around information technology on the inside with some VERY thin metal.

Y'all make it audio like I shouldn't exist upset that I but got a decade or so out of my $30 pawn shop compressor.

In reply to bigdaddylee82:

Clearly they don't make old E36 M3 like they used to .

IOW, yeah...

your life isn't worth it.

A pinhole generally indicates the whole bottom of the tank is trashed.

BrokenYugo wrote: A pinhole more often than not indicates the whole bottom of the tank is trashed.

This. I'd bet a pretty long dollar the pinhole is only the first of many.

chip it or brand a bbq out of it

edit: if you scrap it drill westward/ a hole saw then no one volition try to reuse it... and peradventure kill themselves

D2W Reader
11/iii/xvi 2:l p.k.

Y'all should exist able to find a replacement tank for non much coin. Find out who repairs air compressors local to you. They usually accept many of the crap Harbor Freight blazon compressors around that somebody brought in to have repaired but to observe out they are throwaways. I know my local guy has several large tanks sitting effectually correct now that could be picked up on the cheap.

Note: this is only worth it if your existing compressor and motor aren't crap.

Thanks slefain. (Morbidly curious goes to Google compressor tank welding explosions)

slefain PowerDork
11/3/16 4:18 p.m.

Appleseed wrote: Thanks slefain. (Morbidly curious goes to Google compressor tank welding explosions)

The 2d prototype event would exist described every bit "injuries not compatible with life". From what I remember from the accident report the guy was welding on a little air tank from a service truck and it blew. Cause of the explosion was ignition of the fine oil that covered the inside of the tank. Guy probably was welding 1 second, then lights out the side by side. Nasty manner to go.

slefain wrote:

Appleseed wrote: Thanks slefain. (Morbidly curious goes to Google compressor tank welding explosions)

The 2d paradigm result would exist described as "injuries not uniform with life". From what I recall from the blow report the guy was welding on a lilliputian air tank from a service truck and it blew. Cause of the explosion was ignition of the fine oil that covered the inside of the tank. Guy probably was welding 1 2nd, then lights out the next. Nasty manner to go.

BTW folks, slefain isn't kidding. Information technology's nasty. Unless yous're into snuff pictures.

I saw an one-time craftsman blow. Thankfully it blew the seam at the bottom and simply launched itself a few anxiety into the air.

How To Repair A Pinhole In A Air Compressor Tank,

Source: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/air-compressor-tank-pinhole-leak-patch/123378/page1/

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